| This article is mainly suited for parents who are looking | | | | shows up to pick up that child and you don't know |
| for childcare and daycare owners who are | | | | about it. Are both parents together or divorced and |
| constructing policies on what their daycare center rules | | | | what is the arrangement with custody. If there is a |
| should be. | | | | situation that a parent is not allowed to pick up a child it |
| The main objective of a parent handbook in the | | | | would be wise to have legal documents on file stating |
| daycare setting is to establish rules and boundaries for | | | | the arrangement by court. If a child is walking from |
| the parent and daycare provider. Without boundaries | | | | school or being picked up by your center there should |
| and rules many issues erupt which could have been | | | | be paper work on file stating these arrangements. |
| avoided in the first place. It is extremely important for | | | | 3. Tuition: A contract stating price and payment should |
| you the parent to understand what your provider | | | | be filled out by both the parent and the daycare |
| expects. As well as the provider, it is important for you | | | | center. There should be a clear understanding of how |
| to lay down the ground work so that no confusion lies | | | | many days the child will attend and what the charge |
| between you and the parent. | | | | will be. There should also be an understanding of what |
| Below will be a guideline that you may wish to follow | | | | charges there will be when a child is not attending |
| regarding rules and standards established for your | | | | childcare. |
| daycare center. | | | | 4. Vacations and Time Off: Will the daycare provider |
| A parent handbook about daycare centers should | | | | be taking off for a vacation and will the parents still |
| have the following information: | | | | need to pay for childcare? What about emergency |
| 1. Sick policy: What are the guidelines that the center | | | | closings, what are the policies regarding this. What |
| will use when a child becomes ill? When will the parent | | | | holiday's will the center be closed and are they paid |
| be called, how high does the temperature need to be | | | | holiday's or not. |
| for a parent to be asked to come pick-up the child? | | | | 5. Punishment and disorderly behavior: What are the |
| What if the child has an unexplained rash? Loose | | | | rules of the daycare center regarding punishment? |
| bowel movements? Falls and hits his/her head? What | | | | What ages and what ways does the center try to |
| is the policy for re-entering childcare after being home | | | | correct behavior? What are the daycare centers |
| with illness? What contagious diseases are not allowed | | | | grounds for termination? What are the guidelines |
| in your center? Will you allow sick children to be in your | | | | established when talking to parents about problems. |
| center? These are all very important questions that | | | | These are the fundamentals of a day care parent |
| need to be addressed by the parent and the daycare | | | | handbook. Remember that all concerns should be |
| provider as well. | | | | addressed in this handbook; it is there to help the |
| 2. Pick-Up Child Policy: Issues should be addressed on | | | | parent and the daycare center and especially to |
| who is picking up the child, and what if someone else | | | | protect the safety of the child. |